Hi ,

Have you ever had that feeling where you just want to burn your business down and start fresh?

At some point or another, I would guess this happens to just about every business owner. It can come after a wave of failures, in a time of overwhelm or self-doubt, or stem from stagnancy. We get sick of the sound of our own voice, and get called to change things up.

No, before you get worried, this isn't (exactly) what's going on with me right now. But it has certainly hit me like a ton of bricks a few times over the past 13+ years! My very first business was called The Wellness Roadmap. I had another one called The Business of Wellness Coaching. Then came Vif Strategies. Now it's just "Stephanie Wasylyk" but that has taken several forms including two major rebrands.

All of those pivots felt different than the feeling I'm having now because I was alone in them. I don't mean in a lonely way, but just that it wasn't part of a trend in the industry at the time. But now I'm seeing my coaching colleagues pivot seemingly all together. One is training to be a paramedic and a personal trainer, another is looking at selling physical products, many have decided to get jobs working for other people. For the most part they're making these pivots because they just aren't finding enough traction in their business, but I also see a collective exhaustion bubbling to the surface.

For myself, I'm always hyper-aware of becoming burnt out or over-extended. I go to great lengths to have a reasonable schedule, get good sleep, and set boundaries. But what I hadn't really accounted for was the need for my brain to do something completely different. I absolutely love coaching and the work I do, and I've been noticing my creative energy dwindling over the past year (even before all the changes in the world these past few months). I have taken time off and felt inspired after, but it doesn't seem to stick long-term.

So I got the idea to start "fresh-ish". Instead of burning everything to the ground, I've stripped my business back to the essentials. I've cut my work and my expenses ruthlessly, and I'm now down to a 2-day work week. I'm still coaching and meeting with colleagues, and sending thoughtful emails to all of you, but that's about it. I may consider doing another workshop in a few months if it feels right. I'm proud of what I've built and I don't want it all to go away, but I needed to get my creativity back.

I don't know about you, but I don't feel inspired just lounging around all day. Instead, I've joined a construction crew. Bet you weren't expecting that! My friend has a small company and a bunch of my other friends have started working for him. Turns out moms are quite reliable on the job site and super pleasant to work with! I've been able to just show up, do some odd jobs, listen to podcasts, learn some skills, and come home having done some useful work in the world. And truly, I smile through the entire day.

Most importantly, my brain is hard at work in the background coming up with all sorts of fun ideas because I'm experiencing more novelty than usual.

All that to say, as business owners we're responsible for our own energy. If we continue in a funk, our business and our work will suffer. It might take a little creativity, trial-and-error, or support, but you can make a change.

Interestingly, despite cutting my hours, since I also cut my workload there is still time in my calendar for new clients! If you'd like to explore getting out of your business rut, if you're in one, or using your workweek strategically if you're not in one, let's talk. You can book a call here. I'm fresher and more focused than I've been in awhile, and ready to be your thought partner.

Have a wonderful day,

Stephanie Wasylyk